Camera catches serial fly-tipper

4:49pm Monday 21st May 2001

A FLY-TIPPER from Denton was caught on camera dumping a six-foot pile of rubbish and has been fined £500.

Maurice Ackleton, 63, of Shamrock Road, infuriated his neighbours by dumping rubbish at the end of his street.

So police officers and Gravesham Council decided to get together to catch him emptying rubbish from his van onto the roadside in the Northcourt Estate.

They filmed him on several occasions dumping waste and he pleaded guilty at Dartford Magistrates' Court to illegal dumping.

Sergeant Philip Painter, from the North Kent crime reduction team, said: “Mr Ackleton showed complete disregard for the safety of his neighbours and left a pile of rubbish about six feet high.

“Unfortunately for him, the CCTV coverage in this area is excellent and the skills of the camera operators mean we are prosecuting more and more criminals who commit all types of crime in the Northcourt Estate.”

Rob Swain, community safety officer for Gravesham Council, says residents are fed up with with an inconsiderate “small minority”.

He said: “This incident goes to show how keen the council is to work with others to combat anti-social behaviour within local communities.”

The fire brigade has explained fly-tipping is not only “unsightly” but can also be a threat to life.

Thames-side fire station commander Andy Merriman said last year the brigade dealt with more than 2,000 fires involving rubbish.

Mr Merriman said: “The brigade is taking measures to reduce the number of these fires and the initiatives taken by Gravesham Council to tackle fly-tipping will greatly assist us in this process. This will lead to the local community becoming a safer place for all of us to live and work in.”

Residents can help to deal with fly-tipping and abandoned cars.

Anyone who sees someone fly-tipping or abandoning cars in their area should call the control room at Gravesend police station on 01474 564346.

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